"The Joseph Smith Story" is the first episode of Animated Stories from Church History, yet some count it as one from the Book of Mormon.
Episode Guide[]
Previous episode: Abinadi and King Noah
Next episode: The Conversion of Alma the Younger
Plot[]
The film begins in a house in Lebanon, New Hampshire, 1813. A 7-year-old Joseph Smith is lying in bed due to a badly-hurting left leg. His mother Lucy (née Mack) assures him that the doctor will be here soon. Joseph fears that the doctor will cut off his leg. His father, also named Joseph, says the doctor is from Dartmouth College, and is said to have a new operation. Joseph, not wanting to suffer anymore, asks why Jesus doesn't just let him die. Lucy doesn't want him saying that. Joseph Sr. tells him of many children dying of typhus and says to ask him why the Lord is working so hard to keep him alive instead. Joseph's big brother Hyrum calls to inform their parents of their arrival.
When the main doctor asks him if the pain is really bad, unfortunately, it is so affirmative that Joseph can hardly speak, so Lucy answers for him. When some medical students reveal, by answer to the doctor's question, that the books say to amputate, Joseph Jr. protests having his leg cut off. The doctor comforts him, assuring him that instead, he was going to try a new operation (to another protest): he was going to cut through all of the skin and muscles, drill into the bone, and saw through pieces of it, but that he'd have to bind him to the bed with a rope. Joseph Jr. refuses and says he can hold still. So the doctor tells him to drink some brandy so as not to feel the pain. Joseph refuses that too. Lucy mentions that they always thought that drinking alcohol was wrong. The doctor protests that, since it is "medicine," and doesn't want him crying out with pain and thrashing around to make it impossible. However, Joseph Jr. promises to hold still if his father holds him, and sends his mother out, much to her protest (at first). The doctor talks her into doing so, and then starts the operation.
At one point, Joseph Jr. screams from the pain, alarming his mother, but tells her to go out. He has not even moved. Much later, a medical student assures Lucy that the operation went perfectly, so the doctors get thanked. Much later, Joseph Jr. asks his parents if he'll live. Joseph Sr. says yes. So Joseph Jr. promises to work hard and get strong. Lucy tells him to make his spirit strong, just as well as his body. Joseph Jr. promises that, as he is recovering.
Seven years later, Joseph, with his family (including those never even born before), listens to a reverend in a church, preaching that the Lord has decided on the path of their lives, and that there'll be no way to change it.
When one of Joseph's younger brothers, Samuel, is being lectured for not only having brought a frog to church, but for putting it down the back of an even younger brother William's shirt. Joseph, remembering what the reverend had said, says he cannot blame Samuel for it, and decides that the sermon meant that the Lord made Samuel put the frog down William's shirt. Joseph Sr. tells him it's nonsense. Joseph Jr. mentions he thought the same negative statement when it was said. Hyrum teases him that he'll never get baptized, much to his mother's shock (and the horses to be stopped). After she chastises Hyrum for this, she tells Joseph Jr. he can't become a Christian if he doesn't get baptized. Joseph tells his father he believes in Jesus, but can't get baptized until he knows which church is true.
Back at home, Joseph is teased by the oldest of his sisters, Sophronia, that he hasn't been baptized. Joseph says he can't do it, not because (according to William's assumption) he doubts he has sins, which he knows he does. Hyrum tells him about Jesus' baptism, which Joseph knows. In fact, Joseph Jr. wants his baptism to be just as true.
Joseph shops for flour and salt, and the clerk tells him to go to the campgrounds that night, assuring him he'll learn the true gospel there. Its preacher doesn't teach the fullness of the gospel either, though. One of its members was drinking wine, and the preacher calls him a good Christian.
Alvin, the oldest Smith offspring, asks Joseph if he made up his mind yet, but Joseph doesn't know. That night, while everyone else is asleep, Joseph Jr. reads the Bible by candlelight. Hyrum questions this. Joseph Jr. reads aloud James 1:5 and asks if he'll find out the truth about which church to join. Hyrum assures him it will be the case, and to get some sleep.
Joseph Jr. meets by another church sermon, which is not right either, and he even works hard.
One day, Joseph Jr. walks into the forest near his home to pray, but a dark cloud surrounds him to try to stop him from praying, to his anguish. This doesn't stop him, though, as he only prays that the Lord will deliver him from the enemy. It ends when a light shines from Heaven. Heavenly Father introduces Jesus to Joseph and tells him to "Hear Him." Joseph asks which church is right, and which to join. Jesus tells him not to join any of the churches, as they're all wrong. He explains to Joseph that the churches draw near to Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from him; they teach men's commandments; and they copy the forms of godliness, but deny God's power. So Joseph asks how anyone can follow Him if he doesn't know the way. Jesus chooses Joseph to be an instrument in His hand to build His kingdom on Earth.
He walks home, worn out, telling his worried mother about this vision. She believes and hugs him.
Music Video[]
Goof[]
- In the first church when Joseph and his family are older (plus a second sister named Catherine and fifth brother of his named Don Carlos), at first glance, Samuel and William have each other's shirt and hair colors.
- Speaking of wrong hair color, when the Smith children (again including Catherine and Don Carlos) are in bed while Joseph is reading the Bible, Don Carlos appears to be brunet (meaning with brown hair). Normally, he is shown to have blond hair.